Randall Kennedy
I don't have a full scale review here. I'm not a movie critic, however, I wanted to document few impressions I have about the movie. So I decided this page is the best place for it. It certainly contains spoilers. To begin with, this movie is actually pretty good. Quite funny and interesting plot. The couple of comments I have are: 1) It sort of portrayed that doping yourself to win cycling races is cool. I used to argue that, but it is generally against societal norms, so it's a bit strange. This reminded me of Lance Armstrong scandal and backlash, also about Olympic athletes. 2) Then I had an issue about why there is so much cheating going on in modern movies. But then I thought, yeah you gotta have a plot. Besides, Sam Rockwell's wife is the most unpleasant character in the movie. She appears to me as a feminist, independent, self-reliant woman. And look at what this philosophy made of her. -Thanks
Raul Faust
I just finished watching this movie and the first thought that comes to mind is: what an audacious flick. From the get go, we're very told that the main couple has no chemistry whatsoever; the two characters are quite different from each other. Varney is that kind of a guy whose wife is capable of ordering him whenever she wants to-- and in this case, she wants it all the time. Mrs. Varney is a woman with a strong personality who tries to live the American dream, in which she is the strongest out there and has the most perfect family. In fact, her character is a Freud's classic, mainly for avoiding conflict and trying to pretend everything's alright-- when it's really not. For that reason, I got admired in how well developed the characters were. That being said, Mr. Varney, by admitting his life is just miserable, begins going out with another woman: some woman whose life is ruled by prescribed drugs. Mr. Varney, albeit being a pharmaceutic, sinks into this crazy addicted life, delivering plenty of funny moments-- and remembering me of 1996's "The People vs. Larry Flynt". There are great twist all the way through, and if you like surprising films, this one is indeed a good choice. In the end, spectator is not given any beautiful message about life or relationships, but it's easy to see how sometimes circumstances can help you out.
kosmasp
If you never start, you'll never finish. Makes sense, also if you don't break out, you'll stay imprisoned. Both those things do apply to our main hero here (played with much gusto by Sam Rockwell, whose presence alone elevates any and every movie). You also get Olivia Wilde who takes her last name literally ... well her character does.For a "small" movie that is quite an impressive cast that assembles here and it does show on screen. There are a few things that might feel a bit cliché, but that can be attributed to once cynicism or the fact that one has watched too many movies (I'm mainly talking about myself here). But even through all this the movie has heart and does keep you guessing and rooting for the main (naive) guy ... Sam Rockwell can do that to you (the character he's playing).
Edgar Allan Pooh
I mean, wheel barrows have little round things on the bottom, and so do riding mowers. I've used a surveyor's wheel to measure a 10K course for REAL racers. At one time I had a red wagon (though I think it may have rusted out). Teamsters use all manner of dollies to move freight. Guys are pulling their campers around to catch more shade all the time, and you sometimes see people maneuvering their boat trailers by hand at the landings. Most of the larger outdoor grills are on wheels nowadays, as is much of the business luggage rolling through our airports. Many large office machines, such as copiers, and kitchen appliances (refrigerators, for example) come with their own set of built-in wheels; ditto antique desks and china cabinets. When is the last time you've observed people "racing" any of the wheeled objects on the above list? Bicycles were invented to make it more relaxing to circle a park on a weekend afternoon. Though that drug-crazed Texas sociopath Lance Armstrong has tried to spoil all of that, it's time for bikers to return to their roots. The main character of BETTER LIVING THROUGH CHEMISTRY, pharmacist "Doug Varney" (played by Sam Rockwell), almost lets himself get sucked down Armstrong's brimstone path, concocting a bike racing drug more effective than any Lance used. However, Doug eventually comes to his senses before it's too late, and eradicates the bike crazies from his life to ACTUALLY achieve "better living."
AD
